There are flowers on my window sill. Cards on my mantelpiece. A cheese cake in the fridge. Presents. The promise to good things to come. And a wide awake dog jumped on my bed early this morning to say “Happy Birthday!” (Rapidly followed by “Can we go for a walk nowwwwwwwww?? Plllleeeaaaasssseeee??”)

Years and years of dire warnings clearly directed at the wrong person. I do not have the best track record with fire. Yes, in my quest for warmth I’ve scorched things many times and once I accidently set my hair on fire in an unfortunate incident involving a sewing machine. And my sole freakishly persistent […]

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Home time. See ya.

There is a small convoy of two heading north from Melbourne to Brisbane today. It’s just a red car and a blue car. In one is my brother Brendan, in the other is his lovely partner Nicole. They’re moving to Brisbane where Brendan starts his new, post-PhD job with CSIRO next Monday. It’s such a […]

I harbour a bad dog in my house. Sure she’s cute and loving and nice to have around n’all, but I think at heart she might be a bad dog. It’s not that she pongs, is surly to just about everyone aside from a chosen few, is costing a mint in anti-anxiety medication (for her, […]

As a late addition to the office renovation here at work, we had a white, textured vinyl, concertina style, fold away door installed in the kitchenette yesterday. Can you believe in this modern day and age that it closes with a vinyl strap attached to a big metal press stud affixed to the door frame? […]

1. He likes minties. 2. He once had a flowery, zip up wardrobe. 3. He once thought red braces were a fashion statement (which they are). 4. He once wore red rimmed glasses. 5. He has had a perm. 6. He owns almost every single Dr Who book ever written. 7. He once slept under […]

Why is it that when I start to pack up to leave work for the day four trams will pass by my window in rapid succession? They all head citywards – in fact there goes another one – precisely the direction in which I’d like to go. However, the moment I step out the door […]

Well, the dog’s on the drugs, anyway. After weeks of increasingly worrisome, anti-social behaviour we’ve decided to try the pharmaceutical approach to little Maisie’s aggressive tendancies. Sigh. She’s such a good little puppy really. She’s just a bit highly strung – and firm in her views about who she likes and who she doesn’t. (German […]

Phone rings at work. “Hello!” I say. And give the usual greeting. “Yes, it’s Allan …. from the Academy here. I was wondering if you could help me?” “Oh, hello Adolf” I reply. “What can we do for you?” “Adolf?” he says. “Did I say ‘Adolf’?” “I think you did.” “I’m not sure what we […]